Roman Miller

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Professor Emeritus/Biology

Emeriti

“After 31 years as faculty member at EMU, I retired from my role on May 31, 2016. During that time I was the Daniel B. Suter Endowed Professor of Biology and from 2012-2016 the Director of the MA Biomedicine program.

My current status: Faculty Emeritus

During the last academic year (2015-16) I was involved in the following ways as a faculty member:

Teaching: Two dual listed undergraduate/graduate courses in biology and biomedicine and one biomedicine graduate course

Administration: I was the director of our graduate MA program in biomedicine which is now beginning the fourth year.

Advising: I advised graduate students in our biomedicine program.

Research Two areas: (1) Organic blueberry research horticulture project which is further described on the following website: Knoll Acres Blueberries (2) I worked on a related research project this year with two students (Justin Paul & Chris Miller); together we looked at the potential protective influence of anthocyanins on alcohol teratogenesis in developing mouse embryos, with a focus on liver function and histology.

Service I am currently active in the Virginia Academy of Sciences where I serve as Chair of the Agriculture, Forestry, and Aquaculture Division. Additionally I serve as a judge in the Virginia Junior Academy of Sciences on an annual basis."

Dr. Roman J. Miller is the Daniel B. Suter Endowed Professor of Biology and the Director of the MA in Biomedicine program at Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg, VA where he has taught courses in physiology, anatomy, developmental biology, animal science, bioethics, and philosophy of science for the past thirty years. Roman received his Ph.D. in biomedical science from Kent State University, Kent, Ohio and completed a post-doctoral research program at West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, prior to teaching at EMU.

Roman is married to Dr. Elva (Bowman) Miller a retired optometrist. The Millers live on Knoll Acres, a small farm near Harrisonburg, Virginia, where they are busy raising organically certified blueberries and a flock of registered Barbados Blackbelly sheep. The Millers enjoy reading, gardening, horticulture, traveling, fishing, and working on their farm. They are active members at Dayton Mennonite Church, Dayton, Virginia.

Attended the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Bioethics and Humanities, October 26-29, 2006, Denver, CO. Presented paper: “Virtue Ethics: An Anabaptist Perspective”.

Attended Annual Meeting of the American Scientific Society at Calvin College, July 29-31, 2006. Presented paper: “Virtue Ethics through Anabaptist Eyes.” Chaired the annual “Publications Breakfast Meeting” on July 30 and led the discussion on the publication efforts of the society.

Invited Moderator of a Paper Presentation Session entitled, “Evolution” for the Annual Conference “Continuity + Change: Perspectives on Science and Religion, June 3-7, 2006, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; hosted by the Metanexus Institute

American Scientific Affiliation Annual Meeting, Trinity Western University, Vancouver Canada, July 22-26, 2005; led a symposium for the PSCF Board Members, “Roundtable Discussion on ASA publications.”

Attended Annual Meeting of the American Scientific Society at Messiah College, August 5-8, 2005. Chaired the annual “Publications Breakfast Meeting” on August 8 and led the discussion on the publication efforts of the society.

“Ethics of Biotechnology: Viewing New Creations through Anabaptist Eyes,” organized and led through a committee structure this national bioethics conference on the campus of Eastern Mennonite University, November 13-15, 2003; managed budget of $65,000 and was involved in fund-raising, speaker selection, and moderating conference sessions for over 1000 registrants from EMU, Bridgewater College, and James Madison University; Keynote speakers were selected from across the US and Canada.

“Asking the Right Questions: Christian Faith and the Choice of Research Topic in the Natural and Applied Sciences.” October 13-15, 2000, University of St. Mary’s of the Lake, Mundelein, IL, sponsored by InterVarsity Graduate Faculty Ministries. (invited attendee; interviewed presentors and participants in preparation for upcoming publication of proceedings sponsored jointly by Intervarsity Graduate Faculty Ministries and American Scientific Affiliation)

Chair of Leadership Search Committee for Dayton Mennonite Church; process to call additional elders from the congregation and to secure a Lead Pastor during a time of congregational transition. July 2015-Present.

Former Overseer for Mountain Valley Mennonite Churches (MVMC) from 1994-2005 which included a cluster of five congregations. Functioned as pastor to the leadership teams of these five congregations and chaired the “Spiritual Discernment Committee.”

Co-chaired Bi-monthly MVMC Council Meetings

Organized and lead District-wide events and meetings for inspiration and nurture

Participated with Pastoral Search Committees in calling persons into ministry

Attended and participated in selected meetings and activities of the broader Mennonite Church in various conferences

Direct “Mountain Valley Mennonite Men Ensemble” a cappella ensemble of twelve men that sing in four-part harmony selected hymns, gospel songs, and spirituals; give programs at various congregations and area facilities

Member of Dayton Mennonite Men’s Quartet, a cappella quartet of men who sing hymns and gospels songs and give programs at various congregations and area facilities.Church: Planned & Implemented Programming Events

Organized and led a church leadership retreat entitled, “Anabaptist Views on Church,” a consultation held for credential leaders of Mountain Valley Mennonite Church congregations at Highland Retreat Center, January 14 & 15, 2005.

“A Presence Based Life,” a consultation held for credential leaders of Mountain Valley Mennonite Church congregations at Highland Retreat Center, January 9 & 10, 2004.

“Equipping the Saints” a consultation held for credential leaders of Mountain Valley Mennonite Church congregations at Highland Retreat Center, November 15 & 16, 2004.

“Consultation for Direction and Mission,” consultation held for credentialed leaders of Mt. Valley District at Highland Retreat Center, November 10 & 11, 2000.

“Consultation: Issues of Sexuality in the Congregation”, Enos Martin resource speaker, March 24, 2000, at Bethel Mennonite Church for Mt. Valley District congregational leaders.

Harrisonburg Tent Crusade for Christ, August 1999; week long tent revival campaign with Glen Sell, evangelist, held on the campus of Eastern Mennonite High School

“How to Be a Christian Parent in a Pagan Culture,” conference and workshop, October 1998, held on the campus of Eastern Mennonite High School.

Research Mentor and Advisor (2012-2013 academic year) to two Eastern Mennonite High School Students — Stephanie Anders & Hannah DePoy — for their senior research project, “The Effects of Vitamin C on Embryonic Development.”

Honors, Awards and Grants

2008 Received Faculty Teaching Grant from EMU ($1000) for new course development

2000 Named as an honorary “Fellow” in the American Scientific Affiliation

1999-2007 Appointed as Editor of Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith, the journal of the American Scientific Affiliation.

1986-Present Occupant of the Daniel B. Suter Endowed Chair in Biology. Hold this endowed position that provides funds for service and scholarship.

Concluded fifth year as a member of Shenandoah Anabaptist Science Society which was largely sponsored by a three-year grant ($15,000 for three years) which I co-wrote with Ann Hershberger during the Spring of 2005. Then this organization was extended with a second grant written with Christian Early to the Templeton Foundation (Metanexus)

Co-PI on NSF Grant “Bridging the Valley: A STEP Ahead for STEM Majors” with Bob Kolvoord, JMU PI and Project Director in partnership with BRCC, BC, EMU, and SRI. Two year extension with additional funding, (2011-2013) EMU Subaward $36,500 annually.

2009-12 Templeton Foundation Award through the Local Society Initiative. Functioned as co-grant writer and Steering Committee Member for the Shenandoah Anabaptist Science Society (SASS). $42,000 Grant award awarded over a period of three years for project, “A Transdisciplinary Exploration of Attachment through Anabaptist Eyes.”

2005-7 Templeton Foundation Award through the Local Society Initiative. Functioned as co-grant writer and co-organizer for the new Shenandoah Anabaptist Science Society (SASS). $15,000 Grant award awarded over a period of three years.

2004 Templeton/ASA Lecture Series (a competitive grant program; $4500 was awarded to EMU in order to bring two speakers – Owen Gingerich and Richard Wright — to the campus for seminar presentations during the Fall Semester.

1986-Present. Daniel B. Suter Endowed Chair; Program monies for student/faculty research ($3,000/yearly for student directed research or for biology department program enhancement; average total budget $12,000) $6,000 annually, shared with other Biology faculty who are involved in directing student research projects.

“Day at the Medical Center” University of Virginia, March 13, 2012. Attended this meeting of premedical advisors, taking along three EMU undergraduate premedicine students to visit the medical school and facilities.

“Vision for the Sciences” presentations for area alumni meetings in Ohio and Pennsylvania (2009-2010).
**"Finding Place within the Biology Department and Discipline" with Kelly Smucker, Senior Biology major and co-presenter at Tuesday Faculty Luncheon forum, February 3, 2009.